This anonymous interview is with someone who hires for a:
√ Public Library
Title: Director
Titles hired include: Library assistant, library aide, Assistant Director
Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:
√ Library Administration
Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?
√ Cover letter
√ Resume
Does your organization use automated application screening?
√ No
Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:
I post the job, receive the applications, choose who to interview, my assistant director and I interview them, and I decide who to hire with her input
Do you have any instant dealbreakers?
Not following directions in posting, resumes or cover letters clearly written for a different job posting.
What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?
How they work with others
How many pages should each of these documents be?
Cover Letter: √ Two is ok, but no more
Resume: √ Only One!
What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?
Not asking questions of us
Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?
No
How can candidates looking to transition from paraprofessional work, from non-library work, or between library types convince you that their experience is relevant? Or do you have other advice for folks in this kind of situation?
Explaining
When does your organization *first* mention salary information?
√ It’s part of the job ad
What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?
Nothing specific. We are so small and get so few applications that we pretty much interview anyone that looks close
What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?
Show interest in the library and what it does.
Additional Demographics
What part of the world are you in?
√ Midwestern US
What’s your region like?
√ Rural
Is your workplace remote/virtual?
√ Never or not anymore
How many staff members are at your organization?
√ 11-50
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